Lathe



June 9, 1936- F. c. BLANCHARD 2,

' LATHE I F iled Nov 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June ,9, 1936. BLANCHARD2,043,967

LATHE Filed Nov. 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet s lUN lTED fs'r AT-Es PatentedJune 9, 1936 2,043,967 PATENT OFFl-CE LATHE Frederick C. Blanchard,Dorchester,

Boston,

Mass., assignor to Bivett Lathe & Grinder Massachusetts ApplicationNovember 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,728

11 Claims.

This invention relates to lathes; and is more particularly concernedwith a novel and improved 2 lathe of the class known as precisionlathes, intended ,for use in connection with small, light work requiringgreat accuracy. In lathes of this class, the lathe bed, instead of beingmounted directly upon legs, is mounted upon a support such as a bench, acabinet or an oil pan. In the case of an oil pan, the latter is mountedupon legs.

The invention aims to improve the lathe drive by providing for the useof an endless belt beaims to provide means for adjusting and maintainingthe tension of the belt or belts which transmit the power of an electricmotor to the driving shaft of the speed box.

Another feature of the invention is a' novel and improved, speed-boxcontrol, including a manually operable, speed-selecting lever and .au-

. tomatic' locking means therefor.

. The invention will best be understood by refer ence to the followingdescription, when'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings ofone specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed outmore particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a lathe, a bench and a power transmissionsystem embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 2-2ofFlg. 1;-

Fig. 3is a vertical, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line. 3-8of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical,.sectional view, on an en larged scale, on line l4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale;

online 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical,sectional view, on line 6 6ofFig.5;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, sectional view, on line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on lined-13 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, andto the embodiment of the invention slected for illustration,

having referenceat firs Fig. 1, there is shown a lathe comprising a bedIt dn which is mounted a head-stock li,fand J9 a spindle i2, towhichissecured a cone-pulley l3, connected by a belt H to a cone-pulleyi5, which is driven by a speed-box l6, hereinafter 'dealed in the latteris scribed. The bed is mounted on a suitable support, such as a bench H,by pedestals l8 and i9 presently to be described in detail. The bench,in turn, is supported by appropriate legs 20 and 2 l To enable theendless belt to be employed, and to provide for the quick and convenientinstallation and removal of the same, the bench (see Fig. 2) is providedwith a single opening 22, through which both leads of the belt extend,thereby to permit removal and replacement of the belt to be accomplishedby passing the belt bodily through the opening. As herein shown, thisopening is a U-shaped slot, having longitudinal portions 23, throughwhich the leads of the belt extend, and a transverse portion 24connecting the longitudinal portions. About the slot is acorrespondingly-shaped guard 25, suitably secured as by screws 26 to thetop of the bench. By first slipping the belt off the lower pulley l andtoward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and then lifting the belt andmoving its upper part toward the left until it clears the head-stock andthe spindle, one lead of the belt may be passed through the transverseportion 24 of the U-shaped slot to bring both leads into one of thelongitudinal portions 23, whereupon the belt may be removed bodily.

As herein shown, that portion of the bench which is between thelongitudinal portions 23 of the slot 22 supports the pedestal l8, and tostrengthen the bench at this point there is provided an underlying brace21 spanning the longitudinalportions of the slot, and suitably securedin place as by bolts 28. To facilitate the.

removal of this brace as a preliminary to removal and replacement of thebelt, the brace is provided with slots 29, through which the boltsextend. Accordingly, removal of the brace can be accomplished by simplyloosening the bolts, without removing them.

Y estals i8 and is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3

and 4 are made adjustable vertically. As these pedestals are'identical,a description of one will sufflce for both. The pedestal (see Fig. 3)comprises two telescopically-arranged sleeves 30 and 3|, havingscrew-threaded engagement with each other, the sleeve 3| having a base32 suitably secured, as by bolts 33, to the bench. In the case of thepedestal' IS, the base 32' extends lengthwise of the lathe, whereas inthe case of the pedestal' IS, the base extends transversely. The

sleeve 30,- as herein shown, is provided with a set i of capstan holes34 to receive a bar, by means of which the sleeve may be turned. Topreserve the be adjusted alike. To preserve the adjustment,-.

level of the lathe body, both pedestals should a set-screw 35, threadedinto the sleeve 3|, engages a soft metal button 35, which bears againstthe smooth cylindrical portion of the sleeve 30,-

and clamps the latter without injury to its surface.

4 A stud 31, associated with each pedestal and ex tending axiallythrough the sleeves, is threaded pedestal is made. 1

To compensate for inaccuracies or warping of the bench, while the lathebed rests directly upon one of the pedestals, it is spaced from theother (see Fig. 4) by suitable means permitting the pedestal toaccommodate itself to the bench, without distortion of the lathe bed,such means herein comprising a. spherical or shallow, tapered washer 39,surrounding the stud 31 and received in a. correspondingly-shapeddepression 40 in the top of the sleeve 38, and there is a space 4|between the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the lathe bed.

The speed-box will now be described, reference 1 being had at first toFig. 1. A housing 42 is suitably secured, as by bolts 43, to the underside of the bench l1, and contains a driving shaft 44 (see Fig. 6) and adriven shaft 45. The driving shaft, as viewed from the front of thelathe, projects from the right-hand end of the housing,-

while the driven shaft projects from the lefthand end of the latter.Power is furnished to the driving shaft, as by a grooved pulley 45,connected by one or more, herein two V-belts 41 to apulley 48, thelatter being secured to and driven by'a shaft 49 of an electric motor50, which is secured as by cap-screws 5| to a plate 52. To adjust thetension of the belts, this plate is hingedly mounted on a rod 53, whichis supported by cars 54 on the housing 42. Adjustment is convenientlyeffected by a stud 55, fixedly threaded into the housing 42, andextending loosely through an opening 56 in the plate 52, and on oppositesides of the plate are nuts 51 and 58, threaded onto the stud.Adjustment of the nuts along I the stud varies the tension of the belts.

To provide two different speeds for the lathe,

there are two sets of gears continuously driven shaft 45. The high speedis furnished by a gear 52, keyed to'the driving shaft, and meshing witha gear 63, which is keyed to a clutch sleeve 54, loosely mounted on thedriven shaft 45.

Any suitable type of clutch may be employed,

the one herein shown being a commercially known clutch called TheJohnson Double Clutch, and comprises-in addition to the sleeves 5| and54 an axially shiftable sleeve 55, which overlaps the sleeves 5| and 64.The sleeve 55 carries a wedge block 55, presenting wedges'5l and 58, andthis block is suitably secured as by a screw 59 to the sleeve 55. Thewedge block is loosely received in and guided by a longitudinal keyway18 in a sleeve II, which is keyed to the shaft 45 by a key 12 (see Fig.-5) which also keys-two expansible, split rings 13 and 14 (see Fig. 6) tosaid shaft.

vided with protuberances 11, which aflord ful- 5 crums mounted in theexpansible and contractible ring I3, and the clutch fingers 15 areprovided with similar protuberances 18, similarly related to theexpansible and contractible ring 14. When the axially shiftable sleeve65 is in its neutral 10 position, represented in Fig. 6, neither clutchis engaged, but when either of the rings 13 and 14 is expanded intoengagement with the internal surface ofthe associated sleeve 5|, or 54as the case maybe, one sleeve or the other is coupled to P and drivestheshaft 45.

Shifting of the sleeve 55 is,ac.complished by providing the latter witha circumferential groove 19, which, as shown in Fig. 5, receives a pairof segmental blocks 88, having trunnions 8| piv- 20 otally mounted inarms 82, which are secured as by pins 83 to a rockshaft 84. The rear endof the rockshaft is received in a bearing 85 presented by the housing42, while the other end of the shaft extends through a bearing 85presented 25 by the housing.

A lever 81, suitably secured to the front end of the rockshaft, isprovided with a downwardlydirected arm 88 and an upwardly directed arm89.

This lever is normally maintained In its neutral 30 position, and isrestored thereto by spring-pressed plungers 90 (see Fig. 7), whichengage opposite sides of aroller 9| mounted on a stud 92 (see Fig. 5) onthe arm 88. Each of the plungers 90 (see Fig. 8) is mounted to slidehorizontally in a 35 horizontal bore 93 presented bya guide 94projecting from the front face of the housing 42. Each plunger isprovided with a reduced portion 95, which is encircled by a helicallycoiled compression spring 96, interposed between the plunger head and abushing 91.; which is threaded into the guide -94, and aiford's a meansof adjustment for the spring. 1 The clutch operatinglever 81 in thepresent example is operated by hand, and to that end a handle 98 isattached to the lever, asby a pivot 99, and extends through a slot I00in a plate I0! secured as by a bracket I02 to the under side of thebench. The handle is provided with a downwardly-directed lug I03, which(see Fig. 1)

is adapted to enter either of two notches I04 in the plate I 8 I, whenthe lever is swung to the right or to the left to engage one clutch orthe other. Gravitation of the handle causes the lug to enter the notchand lock the lever, thereby to hold the latter at the end of its throwuntil the operator wishes to release the clutch, which can beacaomplished by simply lifting the handle, where- .upon the lever isrestored to its central position, 60 \under the influence of one of thesprings 95.

When the lever is thrown in one direction, the low speed clutch isengaged, and when it is thrown in the opposite direction, the high speedclutch is engaged.

- Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but withoutlimiting myself thereto, what I claim and desireby'Letters Patent tosecure is: p

l. The combination with a lathe comprising a 70 bed, a hea .l-stock, aspindle, and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath, spaced fromandsupporting said bed, power transmitting mechanism below said support andcomprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and an overhanging pulleyon said 75 shaft, outside said bearings and beneath the firstmentionedpulley, and a belt connecting said pulleys, said support being providedwith a single opening through. which both leads of said belt extend,thereby to permit removal and replacement of said belt to beaccomplishedby passing said belt bodily through said opening.

2. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle,-and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath, spaced from andsupporting said bed, power transmitting mechanism below said support andcomprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and an overhanging pulleyon said shaft, outside said bearings and beneath 3. The-combination witha lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, a spindle anda pulley thereon,of a support beneath and spaced from said bed,

a a pedestal disposed in the space between said bed and said support andsupporting said bed on said support, power transmitting mechanism belowsaid support and comprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and anover-hanging pulley on said shaft, outside said bearings, and a beltconnecting said pulleys, said support being provided with a slot havinglongitudinal portions through which the leads of said belt extend, and atransverse portion connecting said longitudinal portions, said pedestalbeing interposed between said longitudinal-portions.

4. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath said bed, pedestalssupporting said bed on said support, power transmitting mechanism belowsaid support and comprising a shaft and an overhanging pulley thereon, abelt connecting said pulleys, said support being provided with a slot.having longitudinal portions through which the leads of said beltextend, and a transverse portion connecting said longitudinal portions,one of said pedestals being interposed between said longitudinalportions, and a movable brace normally to reinforce said support betweensaid longitudinal portions of said slot.

5. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath said. bed, pedestalssupporting said bed on said support, power transmitting mechanism belowsaid support and comprising a shaft and an overhanging pulley thereon, abelt connecting said pulleys, said support being pro-. vided with a slothaving longitudinal portions through which the leads of said beltextend, and

of asupport beneath said bed, pedestals supporting said bed on saidsupport, power transmitting mechanism below said support and comprisinga shaft and an overhanging pulley thereon, a belt connecting saidpulleys, said support being provided with a slot having longitudinalportions through which the leads of said belt extend, and

a transverse portion connecting said longitudinal portions, one ofv saidpedestals being interposed between said longitudinal portions, and aremovable brace beneath said support and normally extending across saidlongitudinal portion of said slot.

7. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle, and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath, spaced from andsupporting said bed, power transmitting mechanism below said support andcomprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and an overhanging pulleyon said shaft, outside said bearings, and beneath the first-mentionedpulley, a belt connecting said pulleys, said support being provided witha single opening through which both leadsof said belt extend, thereby topermit removal and replace-' ment of said belt to be accomplished bypassing said belt bodily through said opening, and means for varying thetension of said belt by raising and lowering said bed.

8. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle, and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath, spaced from andsupporting said bed, power transmitting mechanism below said support andcomprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and an overhanging pulleyon said shaft, outside said bearings, and beneath the first-mentionedpulley, a belt connecting said pulleys, said support being provided witha single opening through which both leads of said belt extend, therebyto permit removal and replacement of said belt to be accomplishedbypassing saidbelt bodily through said opening, and means for varyingthe distance between said pulleys by raising and lowering said bed.

9. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle, and a pulley thereon, of a support beneath, spaced from andsupporting said bed, power transmitting mechanism below said support andcomprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft, and an overhanging pulleyon said shaft, outside said bearings, and thereon beneath thefirst-mentioned pulley, a belt connecting said pulleys, said supportbeing provided with a single opening through which both leads of saidbelt extend,'thereby to permit removal and replacement of said belt tobe accomplished by passing said belt bodily through said opening, andvertically adjustable pedestals in the space between said bed and saidsupport.

10. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle, and a pulley, of a support beneath said bed, a pulley beneathsaid support, a belt connecting said pulleys, and two pedestalssupporting said bed on said support, each pedestal comprising twohollow, coaxial members threaded together to vary its height, andclamping means including two members extending from said bed throughsaid hollow members and through said support.

11. The combination with a lathe comprising a bed, a head-stock, aspindle, and apulley, of a support beneath said bed, a pulley beneathsaid support, a belt connecting said pulleys, and two pedestalssupporting said bed on said support, each pedestal comprising means tovary its height, and one pedestal comprising a flexible connection with.said bed, said flexible connection including a socket and a membermounted to rock in said socket.

FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,045,967. June 9; 1956.

FREDERICK c. BLANCHARD.

It hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,second column, line 45, claim 9, strike out the word "thereon"; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and seald this 25th day of August, At D. 1956;

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

